He closed his eyes slowly, breathing deeply.
"I'm sorry I scared you."
She started to lean in; stopped. Her breath hitched. Then her lips moved, brushing his jaw… not his cheek. She stayed there.
Leaving slow trails of her tongue against his skin.
Closer than she meant to.
Or exactly where she meant to.
He went completely still. Didn't breathe. Didn't open his eyes. Like if he moved, she'd disappear.
His eyes snapped open, shock flashing in them and something deeper settled in, a pool of warmth glinting beneath it.
They stayed in that position; her lips on his jaw, both of them frozen, his silvery eyes locked onto hers.
"There's so much I want to say…" his voice came out low, rough, strained, like he was holding something back. Her lips could feel every hum of his voice against his jaw.
"But I don't want to overwhelm you or have you shrinking away from me."
His gaze didn't leave hers. Not even for a second. "And I don't want you filling your head with things that'll make you walk away from me… from us."
A quiet breath slipped past his lips.
She bit her lip, suddenly nervous about staying in that position. She shifted slightly, trying to turn her head away.
But his fingers threaded softly into her hair, holding her face just a breath away from his.
"I will always choose you, love."
His gaze held hers in that moment; unwavering, intense, like an invisible force wrapped around her, pulling her closer without touching her.
It wasn't just a look.
It lingered. Pressed.
Like he was memorizing every inch of her face, every flicker of emotion in her eyes… like he was sinking into her, layer by layer, without permission, without restraint.
"Do you even understand what you do to me?"
The corner of his lips lifted slowly, not quite a smile, something heavier.
"For the first time…" his voice dropped, turning rougher, heavier, almost a whisper against her skin, "I want something I can't let go of."
She froze slightly. Her breath caught again, fingers curling subtly at her side, as if her body didn't know whether to move closer or retreat. Her lashes fluttered once. slow, unsteady. Like his words were sinking deeper than she could handle.
His free fingers flexed slightly, like he was holding himself back from touching her again.
Worse, Pulling her to himself.
"I wish I could climb the sky and rip the stars down with my bare hands."
His gaze darkened, locking her in place.
She swallowed hard. Her throat moved visibly, eyes locked on his, unable to look away now like something in her had been caught and held there by him alone.
"And let them fall on you… just so the world knows you're mine to worship."
There was something heavy in it; something that made her chest tighten, her breath slow…
like if she looked away, even for a second, she would lose something she didn't even realize she had already given him.
And the way he looked at her
Not just seeing her.
Claiming her… quietly. Intensely. Without a word.
Like she already belonged in his world, and he was daring her to deny it.
Biting her soft pink lips, her face bloomed a deeper shade of red. Her laughter rang out softly; like music in his ears. light but nervous.
"Can you?"
Her eyes twinkled in amusement.
"I can right now. I'm ever ready," his lips tugged into a smile, teasing in return.
She rubbed her thumb over the jawbone where she had kissed him."It's wet here… sor—ry."
"Don't, love," he said, kissing her hand and squeezing it tenderly. "I don't want you saying things like that. I thoroughly enjoy your soft touch on me."
Color flooded her cheeks bright and hot.
His gaze darkened, a glimmer of dangerous promises behind it. "I love it wet."
Celina bit her lip, quickly pulling her hands away and covering her hooded face with both palms.
His hand moved to the back of her head, gently pulling her closer to meet his gaze.
"Do you trust me, love?" His lips brushed her palms softly as he spoke, his voice low and sensual against her skin.
He lingered there, kissing her fingers until she couldn't keep hiding her face anymore, her laughter spilling out; sweet bright, unguarded.
She placed her arms around his neck, smiling widely. She studied his silvery eyes, completely drawn in by him.
His expression was so genuine; so full of quiet amazement toward her, that she wondered if she would ever meet someone like him again.
Someone who could wake the dead in her, with just a flick of his eyes. Emotions she'd buried. Feelings she swore her heart was too cold to ever know again.
He didn't ask. He didn't touch.
He just looked and suddenly she was alive.
So alive his pain became hers.
So real it terrified her that she was his.
So his, it ruined her for everyone else.
Her head slowly nodded to his question. More like an agreement than a question.
His mouth curved, could easily read her even with the pages torn. "Thank you for trusting me, love, even though we just met."
He kissed the inside of her palm, then looked up again.
His gaze dragged over her, slow, studying her face hidden under the torn hoodie. Yet, more mysterious, more beautiful.
Her pink lips, soft, alluring and wet.
Nose barely visible, part of it peeking out.
Those chubby cheeks his thumb once traced, like he was afraid if his tounge licked them, she'd disappear.
Nothing about her felt real.
She was truly beautiful inside and out.
And he just met the only real thing he'd ever touch.
"I want you to know… I'd like to be with you. And I will never hurt you."
Her cheeks flushed deeper.
Was that a confession?
Her heart filled with uncontrollable happiness.
"I… I… to—too," she stammered, her smile lifting the corners of her lips.
He chuckled, clearly amused, enjoying every second of her nervousness. He couldn't get over how cute she looked when she tried to speak seriously; biting her lip, licking it, flustered beyond control.
"So it is settled, Cuore mio—(My heart)," he said softly. "You'll be with me, both in the hospital and after we leave."
Celina's eyes widened. Her lips parted slightly into a shy smile as she looked away, unable to meet his eyes.
"So you're not going to answer me?" he pouted playfully. "Oh, my poor heart."
Sweet sound of her laughter lingered in the air, stirring something warm in his chest and bringing a quiet smile to his face.
Knowing he was watching her. Slowly, she shifted away from his lap and back to the driver's seat.
His eyes still fixed on her followed her instantly—calm, but warning.
She knew he could easily tug her back… right onto his sinful thighs, like she already belonged there.
Those dangerous thoughts alone sent a slow, burning heat through her, leaving her unsteady.
But he wouldn't.
Right?
"Time is far-fetched…so you wouldn't dare, right?" she raised a brow, smiling, almost biting her lips, challenging him.
"I wouldn't dare," his voice dropped low and velvety. "Not when I could have you back on top of me in less than a minute."
His eyes seared into hers, matching her challenge effortlessly, daring her silently to push him further.
Her breath hitched.
Sensations rushed through her, sudden and overwhelming.
Her laughter turned into taking alot of breaths
"No… I won't… except—"
"Except what, love?" he inquired, voice deeper now, deliberate.
His baritone voice skimmed through her skin,raising goosebumps along her neck.
"No—Nothing!" Celina quickly added.
His laughter was gravelly 'sexy', in her terms, which filled her ears rich and teasing.
"Pick your battles wisely, love."
Her face burned crimson. Her lips parted slightly as if to speak, but no words came.
His brow lifted in a knowing smirk. Her cheeks heated so much she couldn't even clear her throat.
Licking her lips slightly, she thought, He's literally the most impossible man everrrr!!
She turned her gaze forward,quickly.
Her hands shook slightly as she turned the key.
God!! He noticed.
A chuckle escaped his lips.
With her face still red, she turned back at him.
"Are you laughing at me?"
"Do I look like one" . He pointed to himself a small smile played on his lips.
Then he winked.
'Damm!! He was the most infuriating and beautiful man she had ever lay her eyes on.'
Celina quickly turned the key again, her skin betraying her as it flushed hotter.
The engine roared to life.
Gripping the steering wheel, she began to drive. "You… you know what you're doing to me!" she muttered, cheeks puffed slightly as she tried not to smile.
"I presume I'm not doing anything" he said, pausing; his eyes twinkling with controlled desire "unless you want me to."
He drawled the words slowly—sinfully—like they brushed against her bare skin.
She didn't look at him. Her face was too hot to hide now. She bit her lip to control the sounds of her small chuckle.
But to him, even that sounded dangerously sensual.
He watched her quietly, his thoughts growing darker, heavier.
He could die to hear his name on her lips and damm!! In his bed too. Her silky dark hair spread out, her eyes widened in throes of rising sensations, while he lost himself in the idea of having her—slowly, wickedly, completely.
Damm.
His mind spiraled.
The way her pink lips; wet, swollen from his deep kisses would part in soft breathless moan...the way her fingers would tangle in his hair, tugging, gripping.
"Fuckk.."
His control snapped tight, barely holding.
Even as every part of him burned to turn imagination into reality, he held back.
He wasn't going to touch her. Not yet.
Even if everything in him is screaming to claim her as his!!
Mine.
The word echoed, raw and possessive.
But no—He wouldn't rush this.
No matter how the temptation is testing his resolve.
Not when he needed her to understand, it wasn't just desire. Not just want. she didn't just appeal to him in terms of sexual needs.
It was more.
Much more than that.
It was everything.
And he would make sure she knew that
completely.
How much he needs her in his life.
In his bed.
Out of it.
And beyond it.
His silvery eyes darkened at the thought of making her his—body, mind… until even the parts of her that feared him learned to reach for him. Until there was nothing left of her that wasn't his to protect, to keep, to ruin gently.